Hi all,

I'm touse (pronounced as in "boozer", minus the r and t instead of b ). I'm new on the forum, female, Belgian, native speaker dutch and not, I stress NOT, good with computers. In fact I hardly know what's what.

How did I get here? I googled my way. It's a sob story: "My computer is in trouble". It's my father's computer actually. And I think it was me that imported the trouble from the internet. So, I'm looking to right my wrong.

I can't even adequately describe what the problem is. I think the puter is infected with a nasty case of malaware. Not sure though. (THAT's how much I know about PC's) To cut a long story short: I've taken a look at the files that have been modified around time the trouble started and came up with a program file called "Windows ControlAd". I thought that was worth looking into. So, I googled its contents (WinCtlAd.exe, WinCtlAd Alt.exe and WinCtlAdShift.dll) and ended up here.

I must say, I even feel a bit nervous sitting here and typing up this post. It's silly, I know, but this pc stuff is quite overwhelming. Please, if there are other people here that have overcome their computer illiteracy, tell me about it. Will make me feel a bit less apprehensive about all this.

So, when talking to me, I guess you'll have to be patient. The only thing I can offer in return for your help is my gratitude and a joke now and then.

What do you say, I have some forum-exploring and tutorial-reading to do? Well, its cold outside and nice and warm in front of the computer...

Bye for now,

touse

Time for Q&A with CGM3

QFirst off do you have hijackthis?
AIf not get it in my signature. Just click the Hijackthis button.

QDo you know how to post a log if so?
View this Tutorial http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/forums/topic956.html

Tune in next week when we show you how to kill windows XP in 5 days or less lol!

Hope ive gave you a smile and helped you out!
Enjoy!

Wow, that's a fast reply. Thanks! Yes, I'm smiling now and reading up as we speak. Might take a while. So, I've been hijacked?! Any suggestion under which topic I best place my cry for help? Is here okay?

touse

PS With a nickname like that you must be a brave person I like it.

"Windows ControlAd" is bad. Good for you, "tooze". You are right!
CGM3 is also. 5 days, you will be Happy again & your father will be, too.
We will help you. Slowly. One step at a time. Thank you for asking us. It is what we do.

And the A's to your Q's: no and no. But you guessed, didn't you?

Big thanks to you as well, phawgg. It's nice to be offered such a warm welcome and an array of helping hands, it really is. Must be the holidays coming up, or are you all just a bunch of really nice people.

I'll save the rest of my flattery for later.

touse

PS Darn, there's another one of those annoying adverts! Giant smileys this time.

I've taken a quick look at the links. Will read them properly later. For now I need to get some sleep. I've been up all night (saturday morning here, 7.30 am).

One thing, will HijackThis work with Windows professional NT?

I was hoping simply uninstalling Windows ControlAd would solve the problem (via settings, control pannel, add/remove programs). But I'm beginning to suspect that there is no such thing as "simply removing Windows ControlAd), right?

So, the next step is me trying to post a log? I'll do my best.

Bye Bye

touse

Windows ContolAd is a program that you'll probably find in your Add/Remove programs. Since it is known "badware" we will advise you to uninstall it. We'll check to make sure it is uninstalled fully, also. Sometimes that kinda program doesn't. But before you do anything.......

To get the ball rollin' please download the newest version: Hijack This v1.99

Also, it'll helpful to read this:
How to submit a HJT log and please note the new HJT download above.

No, please
start your new new topic in this forum.

After posting your log, with it's own title & comments to help the person reading ot in the right spot (not General Chat), it would be best to limit using the PC. It takes the volunteers a little while to help you, but if you install programs or surf the web instead of basically just going online to come here, it can complicate matters. Post, select "track this topic" and check your email for notification of a reply to it. Relax & enjoy the Holidays. Tell your father you are in good hands at BC.

YES.

Je ne sais pas si tu parles français mais ce n'est pas grave ce qui t'arrive. De toutes façons ici tu peux parler de n'importe quoi!.
Courage!

Merci à toi pour tes mots d'encouragement, jrod52al. Oui, je comprends assez bien le français. Comme tu as pu lire, ma langue maternelle est le néerlandais, une de trois langues officielles de Belgique. Nous, les "petits flamands", commençons à apprendre le francais à l'école primaire à l'age de 9 ou 10 ans. En plus, j'ai quelques amis francophones - ça aide aussi.

[Translation: Thanks for your words of encouragement. Yes, I understand French quite well. As you were able to read, my mother tongue is Dutch, one of Belgium's three official languages. We, "les petits flamands" (the little flemish) start to learn french in primary school at the age of 9 or 10. And I have a few friends who are native speakers French. That helps as well.]

On another note. I haven't replied to any of the other threads yet. I promise I will be more sociable when this trouble with my computer is cleared up. It' just with that going on, the holiday stress etc. I'm a bit stressed/pressed for time. I look forward to reading up on the different topics and talking to you. Because yes – and this is no flattery but a genuine observation - I was pleasantly surprised to find such a friendly, easy-going atmosphere on this board. I don't often visit message boards, but what I've seen of them, most times there's a lot of flaming, ridiculing etc going on. So this here community is a breath of fresh air.

During the weekend I've been reading about viruses, spyware and browser hijackers. I now understand some of what is happening to my computer. The initial panic has subsided. Within the next hours I will be posting a HJT log, and after that it's "Internet silence" for me for a while. So, if I don't speak to you soon here's a
Merry Christmas to all and Best Wishes for the year to come.

touse

wow, touse, that totally blew me away! i took french for 6 years...but never used it. as the saying goes, you don't use it, you lose it. so, while i can barely speak a correct sentence anymore...and can't understand the spoken word, unless it's VERY slow...i found i translated your written word almost flawlessly!! i'm SOO shocked!

you asked for stories about other "computer illiterate" people...i would like nothing better that to give a testimony for these guys. i got a VERY nasty virus back in march, i think...it not only "hijacked" my opening page..it erased ALL my favorites/bookmarks...and replaced them with it's own!! and the choices! this casino or that, that porn site or this, etc. i think you understand. at the time, i had norton anti-virus..a fully PAID version. when i went to their website (symantec), i could find nothing to help me remove it..so i "contacted us here" and sent an e-mail begging for their help. the return e-mail said, absolutely, please call this number (it wasn't even toll-free!), and have your credit card ready. miminum fee will be $30. i sent an e-mail back: are you telling me that, after i PAID you to keep the virus out...i have to PAY you to get the virus you MISSED out??? i recieved an e-mail in the affirmative. i bet you can guess where the norton anti-virus is now.

like you, i googled...and googled...and googled..and came, eventually, to this site. like you, i was scared, worried, and skeptical. but i followed their directions which, lo and behold! i COULD actually follow...and got a clean bill of health. i'm not quite sure which amazed me more...the friendliness, the willingness to help a total stranger, or the fact that they speak puter illitereeese!!!

so relax! enjoy! contribute! c'mon in...the water's fine! you couldn't be in a safer place...and your computer couldn't be in better hands.


welcome to bc.com, and a very, merry CHRISTmas...to you and yours. may your new year be all that you'd like it to be.


damgud

Bleeping Computers is turning out to be quite the lifejacket, Damgud. Without them I would be shark food by now. But I'm learning to swim, one step at the time. And thanks for your story! Reading about similar situations with a happy ending, that does help to keep my spirits up.

As to your french, why should you be surprised you still have it in you? Almost every french word I used is similar to its english equivalent. A large part of the english vocabulary has its roots in Middle-French. You know the story, about the norman conquest of the British Isles (1066) etc. With a bit of effort you Anglo-Saxons have it all in you to become proficient in French. (Just DON'T aspirate your consonants, or they'll start throwing Inspector Clouseau jokes at you.) Why not take a home refresher course: go rent a french film with subtitles - the sillier the better - and you'll be surprised at how fast you pick up on it again.

Touse

I do not know French, but I do enjoy the mustard

I do have a translator that I use from time-to-time

Bonjour et bienvenue à Bleepingcomputer.com

Aahh, la moutarde de Dijon, yep that's good. But if you want it a little more spicy, buy flemish mustard (from Ghent). The lighter - or do you say paler? - its colour, the more you'll be in need of a glass of water to quench those flames. and only the tip of your tongue seems affected. You'll become addicted in no time!

touse

PS. Colonel Mustard, may I call you Jason?

Hello Touse.. and to BC. I just had to post a reply here. Concerning Belgium chocolate. LOL I was shopping with my daughter today and we saw an interesting bar of chocolate.. called.. Boyfriend Replacement! LOL Is Belgian Chocolate that GOOD? hehe. I hope you get your father's computer woes straightened out. You did happen upon a very good site for help. Bon Chance. lol

Oui, mon chocalate ist gutt (even if my foreign languages are "the pits").

BTW, I think Jason is perfect for the role of Col. Mustard.

You'll never wear your welcome out around here, touse, and I must say your
diligence & perserverance at the computer repairing is commendable.

The folks at the office have a valuable asset in your concern for what is
the right thing to do.

Yes Pandy, Belgian chocalate is THAT good!! Chocolate contains phenyl-ethylamine, an adrenaline-like hormone very similar to the hormone that is released into your system when you're in love. That's why chocolates are THE gift for Valentine's Day. (With some things boys catch on rather quickly.) So, Boyfriend Replacement, is not all that far-fetched. If you observe, women who break up with their partners - I recently witnessed this with my sister- often eat more chocolate. And consider the advantages: a piece of chocolat doesn't talk back. But then, it doesn't take out the trash either, does it? Dilemma, dilemma.

And if the boys really want to score (Pun, or no pun, that's the question! ) they'd do good to buy Belgian chcocolate. I don't know the exact details, but it has to do with the percentage of cocoa, which is higher in Belgian chocolate than in most other chocolate. And Belgium has rather strict regulations implemented to preserve the high quality of its chocolate. After all, Belgium has a reputation to defend: chocolate has become a major tourist attraction and an important export product. So, if you're eating a bar of Belgian chocolate, you know you are eating chocolate.

Cadburry's (spelling?) - the famous English brand - e.g. can't market its chocolate as chocolate in Belgium. As it contains too little cocoa. It can be marketed as cocoa phantasy. Or they have to increase its cocoa content, which I don't think they do. You'll easily taste the difference - do a Pepsi test : Cadburry's is, well ... less chocolaty and much sweeter (contains more sugar).

There was some consternation here a while back when the EU wanted to pass regulations for the production of chocolate in the EU. Which included reducing the required cocoa content for a product to qualify as chocolate well below the Belgian norm. I didn't follow the debate, so I don't know exactly what the outcome was. But I know the Belgians didn't cave in on this one. I believe one of the results was that Belgian Chocolate has now become a "registered product quality indication" (I'm not sure if that's the correct english term for it).

You didn't ask for all that, did you, Panda?


Thank you, Phawgg, but I was the sting that injected the poison into the computer. But right now, I'm riding on a high: I just read Grinler's good news - the logs came up clean, AND I had not one but two pieces of chocolate cake!

Happy New Year to you both!


touse

I love chocolate, and was not aware of all that. Thanks for the info.

I have been eating a lot of it recently, because of a bad habit I quit.